Paul Goldberger

Paul Goldberger is an American architectural critic and author renowned for his insightful commentary on the built environment. He served as the architecture critic for The New York Times for over fifteen years and later held the same position at The New Yorker. A recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, his work has profoundly influenced public discourse on urban planning, historic preservation, and contemporary design.

Early life and education

Born in Passaic, New Jersey, he developed an early interest in architecture and cities. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and wrote for the Yale Daily News. He continued his education at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a Master of Arts in Journalism. His academic training provided a foundation for critically analyzing the intersection of design, culture, and society.

Career

His professional career began at The New York Times, where he started as a reporter before being appointed the newspaper's architecture critic in 1981, a position he held until 1997. During his tenure, his columns covered major projects like the reconstruction of Times Square and debates over the World Trade Center site. He subsequently joined The New Yorker as a staff writer and architecture critic, contributing essays and profiles for a decade. He has also served as the Dean of the Parsons School of Design at The New School and held the Joseph Urban Chair in Design and Architecture. His voice extends to lectures at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the National Building Museum, and he is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair.

Architectural criticism and views

His criticism is characterized by a deep respect for context and history, often advocating for thoughtful urbanism over grandiose, isolated gestures. He has been a vocal proponent of historic preservation, praising adaptive reuse projects like the High Line in Manhattan. He has offered nuanced critiques of prominent architects, appreciating the civic grandeur of I.M. Pei's work while questioning the disruptive scale of some towers by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. He has written extensively on the evolution of the American skyscraper and the importance of human-scaled public spaces, frequently engaging with the ideas of Jane Jacobs. His commentary on the rebuilding of Ground Zero emphasized the need for a meaningful memorial over purely commercial redevelopment.

Awards and honors

In 1984, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism for his distinguished body of work at The New York Times. He is also a recipient of the George Polk Award for Criticism. His contributions to architectural discourse have been recognized with honorary doctorates from institutions such as the University of Miami and the Pratt Institute. He was named a Literary Lion by the New York Public Library and has served on the juries for prestigious awards like the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the AIA Gold Medal.

Personal life

He is married to architectural historian and curator Susan Solomon. The couple resides in New York City, where he remains an active observer and chronicler of the city's ever-changing landscape. He continues to write books and essays, contributing to publications like The Wall Street Journal and participating in symposia at venues including the 92nd Street Y and the Chicago Architecture Center.

Category:American architectural critics Category:Pulitzer Prize winners Category:Yale University alumni Category:1950 births Category:Living people